Revolution or stroke counter



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' W. VOIT;

I REVOLUTION 0R STROKE COUNTER.

No. 351,543. Patented Oct. 26, 1886.

l Z 74 577264 J am, I72 z/e/z i22 N. PETERS, Pholo-Lllhognpher. washin mm D. C.

(No Model.) Y 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. W. VOIT.

REVOLUTION 0R STROKE COUNTER. No. 351,643. Patented Oct. 26, 1886.

' llllllHlllllllll Il 71 2? em; em. an? for:

ufifarzze n N. PETERS Phum-Lmw n ner. Waihinglnn. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM VOIT, OF MAG-DEBURG, PBUSSIA, GERMANY.

REVOLUTION OR STROKE COUNTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 351,543, dated October 26, 1886.

Application filed October 1, 1885. Serial No. 178,688. (No model) Patented in Germany June 5,1885, No. 34,225; in France August 16, 1885, No. 170,709; in Belgium September 3, 1885, No. 70,115, and in England October 2, 1885, No. 11,749.

To all whom it may concern.-

I Be it known that 1, WILLIAM VoiT, a sub ject of theKing of Bavaria, residing at Magdeburg, Prussia, Germany, have invented a new and useful Revolution or Stroke Counter, which is operated by the change of pressure in the cylinder of the driving-engine, of which the following is a specification.

Prior to my invention stroke or revolution counters were operated by a complicated system of levers, and it was impossible to locate the counter at any great distance from the machine. \Vith my invention, however, the lever-conncctions are dispensed with and the counter operated by the change of pressuretin the cylinder, connection between the counter and the cylinder being made by small pipes or tubes.

Several modifications of my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

The first construction is shown in Figures 1,2, and 3, Fig. 1 being a longitudinal sectional viewof the apparatus, Fig. 2 a crosssectional view, and Fig. 3 a plan view thereof. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View of a construction wherein two valves are used. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the same, and Fig. 6 is a plan view of the double-valved device. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 illustrate a disconnecting attachment. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional View of a construction wherein the valves are arranged horizontally instead of vertically.v Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the same. Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate applications of the invention. Fig. 14 shows an arrangement of the counter at a distance from the cylinder.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, V represents a chamber connected by means of the tubes A and B with the cylinder of an engine on opposite sides of the pistons, or with any chamber Where the pressure is changing. Vithin the chamberV there is arranged a valve or plunger, 12, which is pivotally connected to one end of a lever, h, fixed toarockshaft, p, so that as the valve or plunger moves up and down the shaft is rocked in its bearings within the case K. The shaft p carries a forked crank-arm, k, which engages with a crauk-arm,m, fixed to the driving-shaft w of the counter.

In order that the arm is may be properlybalanced and theindicating or counting apparatus held in check, I provide a weight, g, which is adjustably connected to theshort arm of the lever k. In lieu of crank and slotted crank-arm, a toothed segment and wheel or any other suitable contrivance might be used for transmitting the motion from the shaft 12 to the counter Z. In order that the small stroke of the valve or plunger 1), when acted upon by the change of pressure, may be augmented, the motion is not transmitted directly from the shaft p to the counter, but, as described above, bythe interposition of crank and slotted crank-arm or of a mechanism producing the same effect. I preferably employ an indicating or counting device with anchor motion, because such form of apparatus offers the least resistance, and because the wearing of the different parts is insignificant. Any other kind of revolution-counter could, however, be applied.

The construction shown in Figs. 4., 5, and6is a modification of the construction above described, and in this case there are two chambers, V and V, with the valves or plungers o and o'. The chambers are put in communication by means of the pipes A and B, for instance, with the extremities of a cylinder of a steam-engine or pressure-chamber. The lever h h is fixed to the shaft 1), and'moved by the play of the two valves or plungers o and o.

The motion is transmitted as in the first construction from the shaft p to the shaft 10 of the counter. The horizontal connecting-casing K of the two chambers V and V, in which the lever h h is lodged, is provided on one side with an outlet pipe, F, the idea being to provide a means whereby the condensed water from the cylinder may be carried off.

When the apparatus is to be used only as a revolution-counter, the coupling of the pipe F is taken off and replaced by a blind nut. This apparatus is furthermore provided with a contrivance which allows the revolution-counter to be disengaged, so that the apparatus serves only for carrying off condensed water. In or der that the necessary disconnection may be made, the crank m is loosely mounted on the shaft w, a portion of such shaft being squared to engage with the socket of the crank. The

crank m rides between the arms 9 g of a disengaging-rod; s,- so that the crank may be moved to or from the squared portion of the shaft 70.

In order that the lever it may be moved to a horizontal position, so that the pin of the arm it may enter the space between its forked arms, I provide a rod, 8, having extending arms 1', said rod 8 being normally upheld by a stop, a.

The disengaging cont-rivance works as follows: The rod 8 is firstlet down in order to place the crank m and the fork is in a horizontal position. The crank in is then withdrawn from the square portion of the shaft a by the rod 8. The communication between the crank-shaft IV and the fork is now cut off, and the apparatus serves only for letting off the waste water. Vhen the counter is to be put again in activity, the rod 3 is lowered by withdrawing the stop 72, Fig. 7. it is now brought back into the horizontal position, and the crank, which was brought before the disengagement also into the horizontal position,can be moved back again. The rod 8 is now raised again and replaced by the stop a. Any other construction of the disengaging-gear might be applied, the above-described arrangement being shown only as a specimen.

Another construction of the counter is shown in Figs. 10 and 11. In a casing, K, connected .by pipes A and B with two chambers, where the pressure is changing from one to the other, there is a piston, L, which ismoved to and fro by the change of pressure. This motion is transmitted to the forked arm k, the crank m, and then to the counter by the lever 9', which, preferably, engages, as shown in Figs.

'10 and 11, with a recess formed in the piston L. Small quantities of water which may accumulate in the socket M in consequence of leakages of the piston, can be led away through the small tube G. a

In single-acting machines, or when it is desired to connect the apparatus for moving the counter only with one side of the cylinder, the arrangement shown in Figs. 12 and 13 may be used. The small valve or plungerois pressed during this suction period of emission by a spring, 1, against the cylinder and moved back ward during the period of pressure or of introduction. This motion is transmitted to the counter. In this case the motion is transmitted to the counter by a toothed segment, 2, which engages with a toothed wheel, a. In steam-engines this valve can at the same time be used for letting off waste water by putting the inferior part of thevalve-chamber in communication with the atmosphere. (See Fig. 12.) In the construction shown in Fig. 13, which represents a pump, the inferior part of the small valve-chamber communicates with the atmosphere, not directly, but by way of a small accumulator, allowing at o the free entrance of air. The small quantities of water which. at the play of the valve or plunger 1) would pass downward during the period of pressure are in the accumulator retained. The water-level in the accumulator will then change only a little, and at a violent motion of the water-level the spouting out is prevented by a small shield, g which is arranged close under the opening of the accumulator.

In applying the above-described apparatus for putting the revolution-counter in motion, the latter can be arranged at a greater distance from the machine, because the necessary c011 nections may be made by conduits or pipes placed as shown in Fig. 14-. In this view 2/ is a cock, which is inserted in each conduit or pipe. By shutting these cooks the apparatus is stopped. as is a cock, which is inserted when the line of pipes is very long, and which serves to let the water escape when the apparatus is stopped.

Two or more indicating or counting mechanisms could be connected with a single-actuating mechanism. This advantage is very important for several branches of industry, especially for chemistry.

The compact arrangement of the whole a pparatus permits of its being placed in a small box entirely closed, so that any manipulation of the apparatus by a stranger is quite impossible.

I am aware that apressure-indicator having a piston which is forced against the pressure of the steam by a spring and constructed to operate a pointer carrying a pencil at its end is old. In such an indicator the piston is caused to assume various positions during a single stroke of an engine, according as the pressure increases or decreases. In my case the valve or plunger only has two positions, being compelled to change from one side to the other every time the piston 01' the pressure-cylinder arrives at the end of its stroke and returns. I do not depend upon the amount of pressure in the pressure-cylinder, but simply upon the changeof pressurein said cylinder from one side of the piston to the other.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v 1. In an apparatus for counting the strokes of an engine, the combination, with an indicator or counter, of a chamber adapted to be connected to a pressure-cylinder, a valve or plunger working in said chamber and making a complete stroke at each movement, and intermediate mechanism for operating the indicater or counter from the valve or plunger,

substantially as herein shown and described.

2. In an apparatus for counting the strokes of an engine, the combination, with an indicator or counter, of a chamber adapted to be connected to a pressure-cylinder on opposite sides of the piston, a valve or plunger working in the said chamber and making a complete stroke at each movement, a lever engaging the valve, and intermediate mechanism between the said lever and the counter whereby the counter will be operated by each move- IIC ment of the plunger or valve, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. The combination, with a chamber provided with pipes for connecting it to opposite ends of a pressurc-cylinder, of a valve or plunger, a rock-shalt provided with crankarm at one end, and a lever on the said rockshaft engaging the said valve or plunger, whereby provision is made for operating an indicator or counter by the movement of said valve or pl unger, snbstantiall y as herein shown and described.

4. The combination of a chamber adapted to be connected to a pressure-cylinder on 01)- posite sides of its piston and provided with an outlet'pipe, the valves or plungers on, the rock-shaft p, the lever h h, and the crank-arm 7c, whereby provision is made for imparting the motion of the said valves or plungers' to an indicator or counter for operating the same, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. The combination, with. the operatingshaft of an indicator and a chamber adapted to be connected to a steam or other cylinder 011 opposite sides of the piston, of a valve or plunger, a rock-shaft, a lever on the said rockshaft engaging the valve or plunger, and a forked crank-arm on the rock-shaft engaging the shaft of the indicator, substantially as herein shown and described.

6. In an apparatus for counting the strokes of an engine, the combination, with the shaft wand the crank-arm k, of the sliding rod 8, provided with the forked arms 9, the crank m, fitted to slide on the said shaft 1b, and the rod .9, substantially as herein shown and de-' scribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this-specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM VOIT.

Witnesses:

EDUARD PEITZ, 13. R01. 

